- This event has passed.
Understanding the Overlap: Lewy Body Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease
November 21, 2024 @ 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm EST
Lewy body dementia (LBD) is a common form of dementia associated with the accumulation of deposits of misfolded proteins in the brain, second only to Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Furthermore, many people with LBD have some symptoms and brain changes associated with AD and vice versa. This webinar will explore aspects of LBD and AD, how they overlap, and how they differ, from the most common symptoms to the shared and distinct brain changes associated with the two diseases.
Pam McLean, PhD, is a Professor and Consultant with the Department of Neuroscience at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida, whose research focuses on the role of the protein alpha-synuclein in disease. She will broadly discuss the relationship between LBD and AD in this webinar.
By the end of this webinar, you will be able to:
- Name two or more proteins implicated in the development of LBD and/or AD.
- Compare and contrast symptoms of AD and LBD, with at least one commonly shared symptom and one symptom that is usually distinct to one or the other.
- Recall that having brain changes associated with both diseases is common and becomes more common with age.
About Pam McLean, Ph.D.
Pam McLean, Ph.D. is a Professor of Neuroscience at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida. Dr. McLean’s research focuses on understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying neurodegeneration in Parkinson’s disease, dementia with Lewy bodies, and related neurodegenerative disorders. Her research uses state-of-the-art cell-based assays, novel imaging techniques, and pre-clinical models to investigate the role of alpha-synuclein, a protein that misfolds and aggregates in the brain regions that are critically involved in these diseases.
Dr. McLean received her Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry from the University of Glasgow in Scotland, and her Ph.D. in Pharmacology from Boston University. She received post-doctoral training at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School before moving her research program to Mayo Clinic in 2012. Dr. McLean has published over 110 peer-reviewed publications, and her research is supported by the National Institutes of Health, Michael J Fox Foundation, American Parkinson’s disease Foundation, American Brain Foundation, and Florida Department of Health.
About Keith N. Fargo, Ph.D.
Keith N. Fargo, Ph.D. is the Director of Scientific Initiatives at the Lewy Body Dementia Association (LBDA). Dr. Fargo earned his Ph.D. in Neuroscience from Indiana University, where his research focused on the effects of hormones on the structure and function of spinal cord neurons that control movement. In his current role at the Lewy Body Dementia Association, he is responsible for the research activities of the LBDA, including the flagship LBDA Research Centers of Excellence, a network of over 20 of the nation’s leading academic medical institutions focused on advancing our understanding of the disease, improving care, and carrying out clinical trials for Lewy body dementias.
For questions or more information, please contact Rose Heithoff, Education Coordinator, at rheithoff@lbda.org.